History
From pioneer to international research institute
The Zeeuws-Vlaanderen Laboratory in the Netherlands is the lifework of founder and managing director Jos Heijens. The son of a farmer, Jos started performing independent analyses for neighboring farms in 1991. His rapid and service-centered approach turned out to satisfy a great demand, which enabled the laboratory to expand into its current position as a global player.
A keen sensitivity to the latest agricultural developments resulted in a number of successful innovations. For example, the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen Laboratory was the first company in the Netherlands to introduce DIY sampling, providing growers with a revolutionary gain in time: test results were now available after 48 hours rather than the usual two to three weeks.
The Zeeuws-Vlaanderen Laboratory continued to invest in new equipment and research facilities, and to broaden its scope of analyses on offer. Soil sampling was followed by silage and water sampling, and by manure analyses. Today, the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen Laboratory is the largest provider of manure analyses in the Netherlands. Through our investments in GC-MS and LC-MSMS technologies, we have also become number one in residue testing.
Jos Heijens remains sober about his success: ‘At first, we were very much pioneers. But we’ve grown step by step through hard work and by being there for our clients day and night. And by constantly keeping an eye on the latest developments and adapting to them.
In 2011, the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen Laboratory will expand its research facilities from 1600 to 3600 square meters. This expansion will provide the company with the space it needs to share its expertise by receiving groups or organizing seminars, for example. Jos Heijens: ´When I look at the company we built over the last twenty years, I think: we are ready for the future!’
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